MTA: Rail Riders Told To Expect Crowded Trains

Rail riders were told to expect crowded trains Wednesday because of the need to make a lot of urgent wheel repairs, Metro North said.

“A large number of train cars” needed the work and were taken out of service, the railroad said in alerts Wednesday morning.

The need for wheel repairs stems in part from Tuesday’s wet weather, the railroad said.

According to the MTA, crushed leaves deposit a slimy substance on the rails, which become even more slippery when wet. The gelatin-like slime makes the wheels slip and slide when the train speeds up or slows down, which train crews refer to as “slip-slide.”

All the slip-sliding sometimes creates flat spots on the train’s wheels, forcing the MTA to make the trains out of service for repairs, the railroad said.